NEW YORK – As you reach for a snack to hold off afternoon hunger pangs, consider how ubiquitous snacking has become in America. Indeed, nearly everyone, from toddlers to teenagers to octogenarians, these days snacks between meals, but there was a time in the not-so-distant past that snacking was considered not the thing to do at all, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The first true American snack food, peanuts grew in popularity after the Civil War when Union soldiers brought back “goober peas” from the South. Peanuts became a staple at ballparks and vaudeville theaters. Popcorn also has its roots in the 1800s, as children especially enjoyed growing, picking and popping the corn.

But with society frowning upon foods that made a mess when consumed — what to do with those pesky peanut shells? — snack foods didn’t become popular universally until food became commercialized. It was the ability to make uniform snacks that pushed the in-between food consumption into the lives of more Americans.

By the middle of the 20th century, Americans had embraced snacking as part of their heritage. The explosion of snack foods in the 1980s paved the way for today’s hearty offerings—and for the many convenience stores that cater to the need for snacks 24/7.

Read more about the snacks in “Snack Attack” and “Midnight Snacking” in NACS Magazine.